IT’S TIME TU MIND THE GAP JURGEN,
Thomas’ Klopp vow
THOMAS TUCHEL has been following in the mighty managerial footsteps of Jurgen Klopp for most of his own impressive career.
And, like the Anfield supremo, Tuchel – who followed Klopp at both Mainz and Borussia Dortmund – is considered one of Germany’s finest modern-day coaches.
But as the new Chelsea chief, 47, joins Klopp on English shores, he accepts that matching his feats over here is a massive task.
Not just on the pitch, where Klopp has conquered all by leading the Reds to their first title in 30 years, but also off it where he has proved such an engaging character.
Tuchel was sacked by former club Paris Saint-Germain after taking them to the Champions League final last summer and is determined to put a dent in Klopp’s reign as soon as possible.
He said: “It’s hard to be as successful – but we’ll try.
“Jurgen is one of the very best and one of the most fascinating personalities out there. I’m not sure I should set that goal because he’s Jurgen. People love him, fans love him, his team loves him and he has the results. “Let’s try to make things a bit more complicated for him. We start now to close the gap and take away a bit of his points and his reputation.”
That approach towards Chelsea’s Merseyside rivals is only a step towards Tuchel’s ultimate goal. The one outlined to him by Marina Granovskaia, the club’s powerful director, when he succeeded sacked Frank Lampard last week. Silverware is all that counts. Not any old silverware, either. It’s the Premier League and the Champions League. End of.
Tuchel said: “She told me very clearly, ‘If you sign for Chelsea, you need to win trophies.’
“This club is about trophies and competing – and the two most difficult competitions you compete in are the Premier League and Champions League.
“But there’s no secret. If I play with Dortmund, PSG or Chelsea in the Champions League, I don’t play to reach the quarter-final, I play to make the final and then I play to win.”
As for predecessors such as Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Conte who were fired despite being successful, Tuchel aims to buck the trend.
“You’re right – there were managers who won and got sacked. One is sitting right here in front of you,” he said with a smile on his face.
“Everyone’s looking for a nice guy, a hard guy, a trophy-winning guy, a good-looking guy, a funny guy. That does not exist!”